TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS OF BIG BEND RANCH STATE PARK AND VICINITY Including Lajitas, Redford, Presidio, Ruidosa, Candelaria, Shafter, Casa Piedra and Terlingua; also Chinati Mountains State Natural Area

A FIELD CHECKLIST 2011 Cover: Illustration of Black-tailed Gnatcatcher by Jeremy Boehm. INTRODUCTION

ot to be confused with the similarly named national park to the east, Big Bend Ranch State Park, located in Nextreme southeastern Presidio County, encompasses 280,000 acres of vast Chihuahuan Desert habitat including grasslands, desert scrub, canyons, riparian woodlands and thickets, streams, rivers and numerous permanent springs. The bulk of the park includes the Bofecillos Mountains, an extinct volcano, and its outlier alluvial fans that form a mountainous plateau averaging 4,000 feet elevation. As such, the major- ity of the landscape is dominated by igneous soils and rock; however, a number of areas include outcrops of sedimentary rock (limestone) especially along Cienega Creek in the north- western portion of the park. A prominent feature of the park is The Solitario, a col- lapsed volcanic dome or lacolith, approximately 10 miles in diameter, which pushed up several concentric geologic layers that are now exposed through the harsh actions of erosion. Overall, the geology of the park is as diverse as any comparable location in the United States. The climate of the area is warm to hot year-round; rainfall averages 8-10 inches per year, most of which (approximately 75%) falls during the late summer/ early fall monsoon season. The lowest elevation in the park is near Lajitas (approximately 2,300'), where the Rio Grande continues its pathway southeastward. The highest elevation is Oso Peak at 5,135'. Big Bend Ranch State Park was acquired in 1988. Long known as the Diamond ‘A’ Cattle Company, its ranching heritage dates back to the 1850s for limited portions of the property and to the 1880s for the bulk of the park. Sheep, goats, beef cattle, horses, exotic game animals and longhorns occupied the land at various periods of the ranching operation; only desert-hardy longhorns and some horses survived the harsh environment and were present at the time of acquisition. Artifacts of that heritage still persist today; watering structures

1 such as windmills, concrete troughs and dirt tanks provide locations for productive birding at times. Albeit, the landscape is adorned with numerous springs and permanent streams. Most of the deeper canyons have permanent water of some kind that is a great benefit to all species of wildlife. In many areas deep pools of persistent standing water called “tinajas” supplement water resources year round. Springs and streams are usually found in association with riparian woodlands (cottonwood-willow-hackberry and shrub thickets) which are often the most productive habitats for bird diversity and abundance. An area easily accessed by park visitors is Ojito Adentro (wayside stop #4) where a trail from the parking area traverses through desert scrub, then into riparian woodlands. This area serves as a prime representative of similar locations and habitats within this vast park and should be productive for birding at most times of the year. A 30' waterfall (seasonal) defines the limit of the woodland and is an excellent location to sit quietly and absorb the sights and sounds of a moist and cool desert enclave. Typical of many Chihuahuan Desert settings, common to abundant resident birds include such species as Red-tailed Hawk, Scaled Quail, White-winged and Mourning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Say’s Phoebe, Logger- head Shrike, Verdin, Cactus, Rock, Canyon and Bewick’s Wren, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Curve-billed and Crissal Thrasher, Canyon Towhee, Rufous-crowned and Black-throated Sparrow and Pyrrhuloxia. In aquatic-related habitats such as pools, streams and marshes (called cienegas) one can expect to find birds typically associated with these habitats including waterfowl, rails, Common Moorhen, American Coot, shorebirds, Black Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, swallows, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat and Red-winged Blackbird. A number of locations in close proximity to the Sauceda Headquarters can be accessed to watch birds. These include Cinco Tinajas, Leyva Canyon and its associated drainage and the Llano Pasture loop road.

2 Winter months can often be very productive in desert scrub and desert grassland settings. Look for various species of sparrows including but not limited to Green-tailed and Spotted Towhees, Brewer’s Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco. Longspurs have been observed in the vicinity of the airport runway just east of Sauceda. In these desert settings in winter, look for pools of water, which have persisted from the rains the previous summer and/or fall. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of birds will make multiple trips daily to these locations to obtain moisture. It would not be unusual to observe all of the species mentioned above, plus many more by sitting quietly at a single location with water. In the Rio Grande floodplain (and elsewhere) in winter look for the following species: Pied-billed Grebe, several species of waterfowl, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, White-throated Swift, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, American Pipit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and American Gold- finch. Terrestrial Rio Grande floodplain habitats in winter can often harbor some of the less common (rare to occasional) wintering passerines such as Dusky, Gray and Ash-throated Flycatcher, Gray and Cassin’s Vireo, Carolina and Winter Wren, Long-billed Thrasher, Lucy’s Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Varied Bunting and Painted Bunting. Undoubtedly, the most spectacular seasons for birds in- clude the migration periods in spring and fall. Typically, fall migration is more spectacular with respect to diversity and abundance of bird species. Migrants utilize all habitats but are especially attracted to riparian corridors. Thus, the Rio Grande and its associated floodplain woodland and thorn-scrub thickets provide a zone for major movements of migrants. These habitats have changed historically from an assemblage of na- tive trees, shrub thickets and Common Reed (Phragmites) to a vegetation community dominated by the invasive, non-native species: Salt Cedar, Giant Reed (Arundo) and Tree Tobacco, all in less than 100 years. Common migrants include but are not

3 limited to Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, several Empidonax flycatchers including Willow, Least, Hammond’s, Dusky, Gray and Cordilleran, Western Kingbird, Plumbeous, Cassin’s and Warbling Vireos, Violet-green Swallow, Phainope- pla, Virginia’s, Yellow, Townsend’s, MacGillivray’s, and Wilson’s Warblers, Western Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak. The extent of the summer season is often open to interpre- tation; for human visitors to the park, 100-degree temperatures can begin as early as February and persist through November. Fortunately, birds recognize the more traditional summer season, arriving in mid to late April and migrating south by the end of September. Typical summer residents which breed within the region are Zone-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Elf Owl, Lesser and Common Nighthawk, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Cassin’s Kingbird, Bell’s Vireo, Cliff and Barn Swallow, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Varied and Painted Bunting, Orchard, Hooded and Scott’s Oriole. This checklist includes all species known to occur within the boundaries of Big Bend Ranch State Park and the immedi- ate vicinity of the park as defined above. Seasonal status and distribution information also applies to Chinati Mountains State Natural Area located northwest of BBRSP. Species that typically occupy oak-juniper habitats have abundance designations that only apply to the higher elevations of the Chinati Mountains. CMSNA is not currently open to the general public; inquiries about the status of the future park should be directed to BBRSP.

Checklist nomenclature and organization follow the A.O.U. Checklist of North American Birds, 7th Edition (1998).

4 Please help protect natural avian communities by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Frequent use of these tapes alters normal avian activity patterns, disrupts essential territorial behavior, and may lead to nest failure. Also remember that most land in the region is privately owned regardless of whether it is fenced or not. This includes all of the property either side of all major paved roads in the region as well as unpaved county roads such as Casa Piedra Road and Pinto Canyon Road. At the present time, general public access is only permitted Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. DO NOT TRESPASS ON ANY PRIVATE LANDS. If in doubt of ownership, please do not enter.

5 LEGEND

Seasonal Occurrence SP – Spring (March, April, May) S – Summer (June, July) EF – Early Fall (August, September) LF – Late Fall (October, November) W – Winter (December, January, February)

Abundance Designations A – Abundant, always present and observed, expect large numbers in proper habitat and season C – Common, always encountered in proper habitat and season, numbers may vary from low to high U – Uncommon, usually present in proper habitat and season but may be overlooked, never common or abundant O – Occasional, not always present but usually encountered at least once during season indicated, may occur in a narrow time frame within a season or in a very special- ized habitat, numbers may vary R – Rare, seldom recorded, not expected each season as designated, may not be recorded each year X – Accidental, may be observed only once in ten years or more, not expected I – Irruptive/Irregular, invasion species which may be absent some seasons/years-abundant others

6 CHECKLIST

Species SP S EF LF W

____ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck X X X ____ Snow Goose U U R ____ Canada Goose O O R ____ Wood Duck R R R O ____ Gadwall U U U U ____ American Wigeon C U C C ____ Mallard U R O U U ____ [Mexican Duck] A C A A A ____ Blue-winged Teal C C U R ____ Cinnamon Teal U O O U U ____ Northern Shoveler U R U U U ____ Northern Pintail U R U U ____ Garganey X ____ Green-winged Teal C R U C C ____ Canvasback O O O ____ Redhead R R R ____ Ring-necked Duck C U C C ____ Lesser Scaup U U U U ____ Bufflehead C O C C ____ Common Goldeneye O R R ____ Hooded Merganser O O R ____ Red-breasted Merganser R R O ____ Common Merganser R R R ____ Ruddy Duck C U U C C ____ Scaled Quail A A A A A ____ Gambel’s Quail U U U U U ____ Pied-billed Grebe U O O U U ____ Eared Grebe O R O O ____ American White Pelican R R R R ____ Brown Pelican X ____ Neotropic Cormorant R R R ____ Double-crested Cormorant U U U U ____ American Bittern R R R ____ Least Bittern R R R

7 Species SP S EF LF W ____ Great Blue Heron U O U U U ____ Great Egret U O U U U ____ Snowy Egret O O O ____ Little Blue Heron R R ____ Tricolored Heron R R ____ Cattle Egret U O U O O ____ Green Heron U U U U O ____ Black-crowned Night-Heron U R U U O ____ White-faced Ibis U U O I ____ Black Vulture U U U U U ____ Turkey Vulture A A A C ____ Osprey U X U U X ____ White-tailed Kite R ____ Mississippi Kite O R O O ____ Bald Eagle R R R ____ Northern Harrier C O C C ____ Sharp-shinned Hawk C U C C ____ Cooper’s Hawk U R U U U ____ Common Black-Hawk R R R ____ Harris’s Hawk U U U U U ____ Red-shouldered Hawk X ____ Broad-winged Hawk X ____ Swainson’s Hawk U O U R ____ Zone-tailed Hawk U U U R ____ Red-tailed Hawk C C C C C ____ Ferruginous Hawk U O U ____ Rough-legged Hawk X X ____ Golden Eagle O R O U U ____ American Kestrel C O C C C ____ Merlin O R O O ____ Aplomado Falcon X X X ____ Prairie Falcon U R O U U ____ Peregrine Falcon U O U ____ King Rail X X ____ Virginia Rail O X O O O ____ Sora U R U U U ____ Common Moorhen U U U U U

8 Species SP S EF LF W ____ American Coot C U C C C ____ Sandhill Crane U U O ____ Killdeer C C C C C ____ Black-necked Stilt C U C O R ____ American Avocet C R C C O ____ Greater Yellowlegs C R C C U ____ Lesser Yellowlegs O R O R ____ Solitary Sandpiper U O U ____ Spotted Sandpiper U O U U U ____ Upland Sandpiper U O U ____ Long-billed Curlew U O U U R ____ Semipalmated Sandpiper R R O ____ Western Sandpiper U O U U O ____ Least Sandpiper C O C C U ____ White-rumped Sandpiper O ____ Baird’s Sandpiper U O U O ____ Stilt Sandpiper O O ____ Long-billed Dowitcher U R U U O ____ Wilson’s Snipe U U U U ____ Wilson’s Phalarope C O C U ____ Red-necked Phalarope R R ____ Franklin’s Gull R R ____ Ring-billed Gull O O O ____ Rock Pigeon A A A A A ____ Band-tailed Pigeon R R R ____ Eurasian Collared-Dove C C C C C ____ White-winged Dove A A A A A ____ Mourning Dove A A A A A ____ Inca Dove C C C C C ____ Common Ground-Dove O O U U O ____ Black-billed Cuckoo X ____ Yellow-billed Cuckoo U U U ____ Greater Roadrunner C C C C C ____ Barn Owl O O O O O ____ Flammulated Owl R R ____ Western Screech-Owl U U U U U ____ Great Horned Owl C C C C C

9 Species SP S EF LF W ____ Elf Owl C C C R ____ Burrowing Owl O O O O R ____ Long-eared Owl X ____ Lesser Nighthawk A A A ____ Common Nighthawk U U U ____ Common Poorwill A A A U O ____ Mexican Whip-poor-will X X ____ White-throated Swift C U C C C ____ Blue-throated Hummingbird R R ____ Magnificent Hummingbird R R ____ Lucifer Hummingbird O R O O ____ Ruby-throated Hummingbird X O R ____ Black-chinned Hummingbird A A A U ____ Anna’s Hummingbird R U U ____ Calliope Hummingbird R R ____ Broad-tailed Hummingbird U U U ____ Rufous Hummingbird R C U R ____ Belted Kingfisher U U U U U ____ Green Kingfisher X X ____ Lewis’s Woodpecker I I I ____ Golden-fronted Woodpecker C C C C C ____ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker R O U O ____ Red-naped Sapsucker R O U U ____ Red-breasted Sapsucker X ____ Ladder-backed Woodpecker C C C C C ____ Northern Flicker U R C C C ____ Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet X ____ Olive-sided Flycatcher U U ____ Western Wood-Pewee C O C ____ Eastern Wood-Pewee X ____ Willow Flycatcher O O R ____ Least Flycatcher O U R ____ Hammond’s Flycatcher R O O ____ Dusky Flycatcher C C U U ____ Gray Flycatcher C U U O ____ Cordilleran Flycatcher U U O ____ Black Phoebe C C C C C

10 Species SP S EF LF W ____ Eastern Phoebe O R O O ____ Say’s Phoebe C C C C C ____ Vermilion Flycatcher C C C C C ____ Ash-throated Flycatcher C C U O R ____ Cassin’s Kingbird C C C U ____ Western Kingbird C U C O ____ Eastern Kingbird O R ____ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher R R ____ Loggerhead Shrike C C C C C ____ White-eyed Vireo X ____ Bell’s Vireo C C C O ____ Black-capped Vireo X ____ Gray Vireo U O U O R ____ Plumbeous Vireo U U O ____ Cassin’s Vireo U U U O ____ Blue-headed Vireo X ____ Yellow-throated Vireo R R ____ Warbling Vireo C C R ____ Philadelphia Vireo R ____ Red-eyed Vireo O O ____ Steller’s Jay X X ____ Western Scrub-Jay R R R R R ____ Chihuahuan Raven U U U O O ____ Common Raven C C C C C ____ Horned Lark U O U U U ____ Tree Swallow U U O R ____ Violet-green Swallow C O C C R ____ Northern Rough-winged Swallow A O A C C ____ Bank Swallow U O U ____ Cliff Swallow A A A U ____ Cave Swallow C U C O ____ Barn Swallow A A A C ____ Black-crested Titmouse C C C C C ____ Verdin C C C C C ____ Bushtit C C C C C ____ Red-breasted Nuthatch I I I I ____ White-breasted Nuthatch U U U U U

11 Species SP S EF LF W ____ Brown Creeper O O O R ____ Cactus Wren C C C C C ____ Rock Wren C C C C C ____ Canyon Wren C C C C C ____ Carolina Wren O R O O O ____ Bewick’s Wren C C C C C ____ House Wren U U U U ____ Winter Wren R R R ____ Marsh Wren U O U U U ____ Golden-crowned Kinglet O O R ____ Ruby-crowned Kinglet A U A A ____ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher A O A C C ____ Black-tailed Gnatcatcher C C C C C ____ Eastern Bluebird I I I ____ Western Bluebird I I I ____ Mountain Bluebird I I I ____ Townsend’s Solitaire I I I ____ Gray-cheeked Thrush X ____ Swainson’s Thrush U R ____ Hermit Thrush A U A A ____ American Robin I I I ____ Gray Catbird R R ____ Northern Mockingbird A A A A A ____ Sage Thrasher I I I ____ Brown Thrasher R R R ____ Long-billed Thrasher X X X X ____ Curve-billed Thrasher C C C C C ____ Crissal Thrasher U U U C C ____ European Starling C C C C C ____ American Pipit C O A A ____ Sprague’s Pipit R R R ____ Cedar Waxwing I I I I ____ Phainopepla C U C C C ____ Olive Warbler X ____ McCown’s Longspur O O ____ Chestnut-collared Longspur U C C ____ Tennessee Warbler R

12 Species SP S EF LF W ____ Orange-crowned Warbler C U C U ____ Nashville Warbler C U C ____ Virginia’s Warbler C C O ____ Lucy’s Warbler U U U O R ____ Northern Parula O O R X ____ Yellow Warbler A A ____ Chestnut-sided Warbler X ____ Magnolia Warbler X X ____ Yellow-rumped Warbler A U A I ____ Black-throated Gray Warbler U U O R ____ Townsend’s Warbler U A U O ____ Hermit Warbler X R ____ Black-throated Green Warbler O O ____ Blackburnian Warbler X ____ Yellow-throated Warbler O X O ____ Grace’s Warbler X X ____ Palm Warbler X ____ Black-and-white Warbler U U O ____ American Redstart O X O ____ Prothonotary Warbler X ____ Worm-eating Warbler X ____ Ovenbird X X ____ Northern Waterthrush U U O ____ Louisiana Waterthrush R R R ____ Mourning Warbler X X ____ MacGillivray’s Warbler C C O ____ Common Yellowthroat C U C O O ____ Hooded Warbler X ____ Wilson’s Warbler A O A U X ____ Painted Redstart X ____ Yellow-breasted Chat C C C O ____ Hepatic Tanager R R ____ Summer Tanager C C C O ____ Western Tanager C C O ____ Green-tailed Towhee C U C C ____ Spotted Towhee C U C C ____ Eastern Towhee X

13 Species SP S EF LF W ____ Canyon Towhee C C C C C ____ Botteri’s Sparrow X X ____ Cassin’s Sparrow I A A C U ____ Rufous-crowned Sparrow C C C C C ____ Chipping Sparrow A U A A I ____ Clay-colored Sparrow C C O I ____ Brewer’s Sparrow A C A A ____ Field Sparrow O O R ____ Black-chinned Sparrow R R U U ____ Vesper Sparrow A U A A ____ Lark Sparrow A A A C R ____ Black-throated Sparrow A A A A A ____ Sage Sparrow U U U ____ Lark Bunting I R I I I ____ Savannah Sparrow C U C C ____ Baird’s Sparrow O O R ____ Grasshopper Sparrow U I O U O ____ Fox Sparrow R R R ____ Song Sparrow U U U ____ Lincoln’s Sparrow C U C U ____ Swamp Sparrow U U U ____ White-throated Sparrow R R R ____ Harris’s Sparrow X X X ____ White-crowned Sparrow A C A A ____ Golden-crowned Sparrow X X ____ Dark-eyed Junco U O C C ____ Northern Cardinal C C C C C ____ Pyrrhuloxia A A A A A ____ Rose-breasted Grosbeak R R ____ Black-headed Grosbeak C C C U ____ Blue Grosbeak A A A U R ____ Lazuli Bunting U U ____ Indigo Bunting O O U ____ Varied Bunting C C C O R ____ Painted Bunting C C C O R ____ Dickcissel O O ____ Red-winged Blackbird U U U C C

14 Species SP S EF LF W ____ Eastern Meadowlark U U U U U ____ Western Meadowlark C C C C ____ Yellow-headed Blackbird C C U R ____ Brewer’s Blackbird C U A A ____ Common Grackle R R R ____ Great-tailed Grackle C C C C C ____ Bronzed Cowbird U U ____ Brown-headed Cowbird A C C A C ____ Orchard Oriole C U C ____ Hooded Oriole O O O ____ Bullock’s Oriole C U C ____ Scott’s Oriole C C C O R ____ House Finch A A A A A ____ Cassin’s Finch I I I ____ Pine Siskin I X I I I ____ Lesser Goldfinch C C C C U ____ Lawrence’s Goldfinch X X ____ American Goldfinch U U C ____ Evening Grosbeak I I I ____ House Sparrow A A A A A

CITATION

Bryan, Kelly B. February 2011. Birds of Big Bend Ranch State Park and vicinity: a field checklist. Natural Resource Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Major contributions by Mark Adams, Keith Arnold, Bill Bourbon, Steve Cardiff, Donna Dittman, Carol Edwards, John Gee, David and Linda Hedges, Jim Hines, Greg Lasley, Mark Lockwood, Bonnie McKinney and Jody Miller.

15 NOTES

16 In 1983, the Texas Legislature created the Special Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Fund. This fund may be used for nongame wildlife and endangered species research and conservation, habitat acquisition and development and dissemination of information pertaining to nongame man- agement. Money for this fund is obtained through private donations and sale of nongame wildlife art prints and stamps. This fund now gives Texans a unique opportunity to help support this state’s valuable and sensitive nongame resources. Your individual contributions and purchases of nongame art prints and stamps will help determine the level of nongame conservation activities in Texas. For more information call toll-free (1-800-792-1112) or contact: Nongame and Endan- gered Species Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744.

TPWD receives federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies. TPWD is therefore subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilita- tion Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, in addition to state anti-discrimination laws. TPWD will comply with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any TPWD program, activity or event, you may contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA 22203, Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access. Natural Resource Program Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744

© 2011 Texas Parks and Wildlife PWD BK P4501-152H (6/11) In accordance with Texas Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.